The North

The North is the largest region in Westeros, but has the lowest population density. House Stark rules the North from their millennia-old seat at Winterfell. Descendents of the First Men, Northmen have no hostility toward Southerners but tend to look down on them as 'soft'. Northmen primarly follow The Old Gods of the Forest, and see The Faith of the Sevenas the religion of the south. Due to these religious differences there are very few annointed knights in the North.

The North extends to the east and west oceans, and also up to The Wall. By the Wall there are few villages, as wildings sneak past the Night's Watch. South to a Northman is everything below The Neck at Moat Cailin. There Moat Cailin protects a narrow entrance to the North. Many invaders have tried to pass through the Riverlands to the North and have been thwarted at Moat Cailin's causeway. The region also includes various islands along the coasts like Bear Island, isolated less civilized mountain tribes, and the crannogmen in the Greywater Watch bogs, all owing fealty to House Stark.

The North's climate is varied based on location throughout the North. The climate can range from arctic freezing and forty foot snowfalls near The Wall to cool in the south. In all parts of the North, everyone experiences the harsh intensity of winter. Snowfall is not a rare occurance even in the summer. Therefore, those in the North are constantly setting aside grain and food stores, always in preparation of the winter. Castles like Winterfell are often located near hot springs, out of necessity. The Starks words are words lived by all in the North everyday, and are always right eventually, "Winter is Coming".